Inflatable swimming suit



Y. TEMCHIN ET AL INFLATABLE SWIMMING SUIT May 25;, 1937.

Filed April 6, 1956 INVENTORS Yez'ie Ymckm flyman Grass g fgomzv j Patented May 25, 1937 UNl'i'D SITES PATT OFFICE Yetta Temchin and Hyman Gross, New York, N. Y.

Application April 6, 1936, Serial No. 72,905

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an inflatable swimming suit.

The invention has for an object the construction of an article as mentioned which is characterized by a pair of trunks associated with a pair of shoulder straps and a web portion for covering the back, and inflatable members attached along the edges of the web portion to assist in holding the wearer up in the water. 10 More specifically, it is contemplated to construct the inflatable members from sheet rubber arranged in the form of pockets. It is also preferred to construct the trunks, shoulder straps and Web portions of knitted elastic material.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for detachably holding the inflatable members in position. It is thus possible to remove them when desired.

Still further the invention contemplates an 20 arrangement whereby the means for holding the inflatable member is normally operable when the inflatable members are inflated.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an article as mentioned which is a simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and ac- 3 companying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an article constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the article shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4. 45 The inflatable swimming suit comprises a pair of trunks l preferably made of knitted elastic material having a crotch portion Ili Shoulder straps H are attached to the top edge of the trunks at the front portion and extend to the 50 back and connect with a web portion l2 which is adapted to cover the wearers back. These shoulder straps and web portions preferably should also be made of knitted elastic material. The edges of the trunks, shoulder straps and web portion have a selvage stitch finish I3. In-

flatable members [4 are attached along the edges of the web portion l2.

These inflatable members preferably should be constructed from sheet rubber and formed with interior hollows l4. At one of the corners, preferably the upper outer corner, there is a small tube l in each of the inflatable members by which they may be blown up. The details of the tube will not be given in this specification as they form no part of the invention and may be similar to the many types of similar devices used on present day swimming wings.

The inflatable members [4 preferably extend the complete length of the web portion l2, that is, from the shoulder portions to approximately the waistline of the wearer. These inflatable members will be free to swing from the shoulders and sides of the person wearing the suit and render support while in the water.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification of the invention has been disclosed which is characterized by the fact that the inflatable members M are each removable. Each inflatable member M is of a different shape than the inflatable members l4, merely for the purpose of design. Along the inner edge each inflatable member w is provided with buttons I6 attached upon the front and. back portions thereof. These buttons have openings Ili for the purpose hereinafter described. At several positions spaced along the edge of the web portion l2 there are metallic clips I! attached upon the material of the web portion and adapted to coact with the buttons iii in a novel manner. These clips have projecting prongs Il and are adapted to be engaged into the openings l6 when the inflatable member is inflated. The clips I'd are housed between the web portion l2 and a cover strip 18 which is secured along the edge of the web portion.

In order to remove the inflatable members it is necessary that they be deflated and the buttons l6 drawn off from the prongs Il It is to be understood that the inflatable members may be attached either to the edges of the front straps or to the edges of the web portion l2 as indicated in the illustrations. The swimming suit may be made of any suitable material and in various sizes to fit children of different ages, also for grown-ups.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. In an inflatable swimming suit, a swimming suit comprising a trunk portion and a top portion, U-shaped clip attached along the edge of said top portion, inflatable member having buttons along the edge portions thereof engageable between the arms of said U-shaped clip, and means on the clip and buttons cooperating to hold the inflatable member upon the swimming suit when inflated.

2. In an inflatable swimming suit, a swimming suit comprising a trunk portion and a top portion, U-shaped clip attached along the edge of said top portion, inflatable member having buttons along the edge portions thereof engageable between the arms of said U-shaped clip, and means on the clip and buttons cooperating to hold the inflatable member upon the swimming suit when inflated, comprising prongs on one of the parts engageable in openings in the other of the parts.

3. In an inflatable swimming suit, a swimming suit comprising a trunk portion and a top portion, U-shaped clip attached along the edge of said top portion, inflatable member having buttons along the edge portions thereof engageable between the arms of said U-shaped clip, and means on the clip and buttons cooperating to hold the inflatable member upon the swimming suit when inflated, comprising prongs on one of the parts engageable in openings in the other of the parts, and a strap covering said U-shaped clip.

4. In an inflatable swimming suit, a swimming suit body comprising a trunk portion and a top portion having an edge, an inflatable member for floating one wearing said suit, fastening elements on the front and rear faces of one edge portion of said inflatable member, a member attached along the edge portion of said top portion and having opposed arm portions, and complementary fastening elements on the inner faces of said arm portions whereby the edge of said inflatable member having said fastening elements may be inserted between said arms and said inflatable member inflated to engage said fastening elements with said complementary fastening elements to keep said inflatable member in position thereon. I

YETTA TEMCHIN. I-IYMAN GROSS. 

